Grub Control Standard Procedures

Grubs live under your grass and feed on the roots, causing your lawn to have those nasty brown spots. If dead grass is not bad enough, the grubs attract other animals like moles and mice that eat the grubs. These animals may kill your flowers and other plants as they dig around for the grubs. This chain reaction is why grub control is so important. You can ensure that you don't get grubs or get rid of grubs if you already have them.

Beetles lay their eggs in the lawn, and when you water the lawn it makes a perfect nursery for them. They start eating the lawn roots, which causes the dead spots. There are a couple of ways you can be sure that the problem is grubs. Dig and lift a patch of the dead sod and check the dirt. If you have five or more grubs, you need to treat. Another way is to set containers of beer in your lawn. Use an old margarine bowl and place it at ground level. Place some beer in the bowl and leave it there overnight. Then check the bowl for grubs. If you have a bowl full of grubs, you need to treat your yard. This beer method can also be a way to get rid of the grubs, but it takes a long time.

Invite the local birds to your yard. Bird feeders and birdbaths in your yard attract the birds, and they also feed on the grubs. This may be a little tough on the already-stressed lawn, but it works. Once the grubs are gone, you can work on repairing the lawn.

A treatment that you can use anytime the lawn is not frozen is a bacteria called Bacillus papillae. You can find it under the brand name Milky Spore. It is still best to use it in spring and fall, but you can use it at other times too. The bacteria kill only the grubs and do not harm the earthworms or insects that are beneficial for your lawn. It doesn't hurt your pets. You can sprinkle it on your lawn or use it with a garden hose sprayer. After a few treatments it will last for years in your yard.

Another natural killer is beneficial nematodes. These are microscopic worms that kill the grubs but do not harm people, pets or earthworms. Use these treatments if you don't want to put chemicals into your lawn that can be transmitted to your family or water supply. They are also safe to use as a standard procedure each year to prevent the grubs from ever becoming a problem.

There are many commercial grub killers and grub preventives on the market. You can find them in any home improvement store or garden center. Chemicals such as imidacloprid and carbaryl come under the trade names of Merrit and Sevin. You can spray them both on your lawn to prevent grubs.

The beetles don't like to navigate high grass. Leave the lawn at least two inches high. They also need water, so water your lawn as little as possible while still keeping it green. You can also spray Neem oil on your lawn. It's a natural product that causes the grass roots to taste bad to the grubs.